Project co-financed by European Social Fund as part of the EQUAL EU Initiative

Centre for Organization of Local Social Entrepreneurship Project Realized by 12 partners (self-government, non-governmental organizations, private companies) under the leadership of Caritas of the Gdańsk Archdiocese Duration: July 2005 - March 2008 Place: Centre for Organization of Local Social Entrepreneurship (COLPS) in Sopot Centre for Organization of Local Social Entrepreneurship Project co-financed by European Social Fund as part of the EQUAL EU Initiative

Project objective Developing the innovative method to fight long-term unemployment through: detailed analysis of causes of long-term unemployment - analysis of the needs of the local labour market - merging the activities formerly dispersed between different institutions and organizations (Partnership for Development „NA FALI”) Project co-financed by European Social Fund as part of the EQUAL EU Initiative

Labour Office Employment Agency Training Institution Professional Practice Counselling Training Institution 2 Business counselling Other Project co-financed by European Social Fund as part of the EQUAL EU Initiative

Centre for Organization of Local Social Entrepreneurship Caritas Of Gdańsk Archdiocese Sopot Commune Independent Nursery school of Sopot Regional Office Of work Centre for Organization of Local Social Entrepreneurship Municipal Labour Office Vocational Improvement Unit Foundation Economic Cleaning Consulting Schulz&Partners Attorneys at Law CIS Nephax ITM Computer Centre FASTER Language Centre Project co-financed by European Social Fund as part of the EQUAL EU Initiative

Participants (Final Beneficiaries) The long-term unemployed (above 2 years) I group - 40 persons from Sopot (including 10 persons aged 50+) II group - 40 persons from Sopot and Gdynia (including 9 persons aged 50+) Project co-financed by European Social Fund as part of the EQUAL EU Initiative

Certain causes of a long-term unemployment: Psychological: a sense of helplessness, lack of self-confidence, passive attitude towards one’s own life Insufficient qualifications: lack of skills which are required by employers Age: 24% of participants are people aged 50+ Personal situation: necessity to take care of a child or an adult Project co-financed by European Social Fund as part of the EQUAL EU Initiative

Professional paths: Gastronomy and catering Hotel business Adult care Childcare Professional cleaning services Individual computer path Project co-financed by European Social Fund as part of the EQUAL EU Initiative

Methodology: Motivation Centre 7-weeks long incentive workshops (at the beginning) support groups (once a month on the average) supporting motivation and stimulating the professional creativity access to specialist magazines meetings with trade experts observing „good practices” participation in trade fairs organisation of open days promoting the activity of simulation enterprises Project co-financed by European Social Fund as part of the EQUAL EU Initiative

Methodology: 2. Academy of Skills - individual approach towards FB – adaptation to the needs and skills of FB theoretical training courses in form of simulation enterprises (the division of group roles, joint responsibility for work, sense of security, gradual independence, recruiting customers) learning foreign language(s) basic computer skills Project co-financed by European Social Fund as part of the EQUAL EU Initiative

Methodology: 3. Incubator of Entrepreneurship - individual approach to each case, seeking optimum solutions vocational counselling, legal and business consultancy, training courses in entrepreneurship, subsidies to launch business activity, assistance in finding business premises Project co-financed by European Social Fund as part of the EQUAL EU Initiative

Schedule Professional practice March 2006 Participation in the project 15 May, 2007 Workshops to prepare for participation in the project Intensive language 1 course Computer training course Vocational training courses Professional practice Reinforcement of languge 1 skills Intensive languge 2 course Training course – how to open and manage your own business Reinforcement of languge 2 skills Project co-financed by European Social Fund as part of the EQUAL EU Initiative

Results 36 persons accomplished the project remaining 4: 1 person has undertaken work earlier 3 resigned from health reasons 4 persons established a social cooperative 6 persons are launching their own business 13 persons found a job and will undertake work once they finish the project 5 persons will undertake work or establish a company in the nearest future 8 persons are still looking for a job 1 person will not undertake work for health reasons Project co-financed by European Social Fund as part of the EQUAL EU Initiative

Results Out of 36 persons who want and can work 29 returned to the activity on the labour market. Effectiveness of the method: 80.55% Project co-financed by European Social Fund as part of the EQUAL EU Initiative

COLPS is a GATE to your new possibilities Future Launching new COLPS centres in the province of Pomerania Chances for other persons to break the barriers and to establish a better future COLPS is a GATE to your new possibilities Project co-financed by European Social Fund as part of the EQUAL EU Initiative

Partnership for Development „NA FALI" St. Benedict Memorial Centre for Organization of Local Social Entrepreneurship in Sopot Al. Niepodległości 778 81-805 Sopot Tel. 0 58 555 78 78 e-mail: nafali@caritas.pl Project co-financed by European Social Fund as part of the EQUAL EU Initiative